Turnpike Commission begins making plans to charge tolls on I-80

Things that cost $25: a hair cut, a double CD set, and soon, a passage across Pennsylvania on Interstate 80.

BETH BRELJE

Things that cost $25: a hair cut, a double CD set, and soon, a passage across Pennsylvania on Interstate 80.

And that is not the only way you'll be parted from your money. In 2009, tolls on the Pennsylvania Turnpike are set to increase 25 percent, then climb 3 percent a year thereafter.

End to end, from Warrendale to Wyoming Valley, the toll for cars is $22.75. Turnpike drivers will need to cough up an extra $5.69 after the increase.

It's all part of Act 44, a plan to boost the state transportation budget which Gov. Ed Rendell signed into law in July.

Act 44 outlines steps for generating money for roads.

The most significant step is a 50-year lease agreement between the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. The commission will pay PennDOT to manage Interstate 80, including collecting tolls.

If the plan meets approval from the Federal Highway Administration, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission will have up to 10 toll stops along the 310 mile span.

The location of toll booths has not been determined, but on average they will be spaced 30 miles apart. Exits will remain free, and there will be no travel plaza rest stops to compete with local commerce.

According to the Turnpike Commission plan, in September 2010, I-80 will be turned over to the commission's control.

The Turnpike Commission will maintain the interstate, including snow plowing. A February snowstorm brought I-80 to its knees this year, while the turnpike remained open.

"We have different standards. We have a clear pavement policy at the turnpike," said Carl DeFebo, Manager, Media & Public Relations. "People pay a premium to ride toll roads. Customers expect a better level of service."

There will be staffing changes. The partnership will look at all the PennDOT road maintence crews and decide how many workers handle I-80.

"Those workers will become turnpike employees," DeFebo said, then more workers will be hired for I-80 work. The remaining PennDOT staff will handle other state roads.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission will require contractors to keep both lanes open while handling road repairs, just as they do now on the turnpike.

The pinch on private drivers is significant, but truckers will pay even more.

"We are opposed to it," Kristin Vasey communications director for the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association said. The fear is truckers will use smaller roads to save money.

The Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association says interstate roads are safest for truck drivers, and putting another toll in Pennsylvania may encourage other states to do the same. The state of Wyoming is also considering putting a toll on Interstate 80.

With jam-packed roads in Monroe County, will money raised go to congestion relief?

"Its hard to say how the money would play out in that regard," said Rich Kirkpatrick, spokesman for PennDOT.

The plan will raise $83.3 billion over 50 years. None of the money will go for public transportation projects like trains. It is for roads, bridges and other transportation projects. Revenue raised by the toll increase on the Pennsylvania Turnpike will be used to make lease payments to PennDOT.